Southern California -- this just in

Boy, 15, who killed himself at school was bullied, parents say

January 8, 2013 | 6:25
pm

The parents of a 15-year-old Crescenta Valley High School student who
jumped to his death on campus last year have filed a lawsuit alleging
that district officials turned a “blind eye” to the bullying that they say prompted their son to take his life.

On Feb. 10, Drew
Ferraro jumped to his death from a third-story building at the school in
front of other students. Not long into the ensuing investigation, a Los
Angeles County coroner’s official said Drew did not reference bullying
in any of the “very telling” four suicide notes found on his body.

“They
didn’t mention anything about being abused or being bullied,” Sheriff’s Lt. John Corina said at the time. “He gave a different
reason for doing what he did.”

But Drew’s parents, John and
Deana Ferraro, countered that bullying was a major factor in Drew’s
suicide. In their lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in
December, the parents claim that beginning in his freshman year, Drew
was bullied “because of his small size, demeanor and style” and
“harassed for his attitude toward girls.”

They also allege that school officials did not “attempt to create a safer environment within which Drew could learn and evolve.”

On Tuesday, the family’s attorney, Stanley Lieber, declined to disclose the content of the four letters.

“They
were intended for the people they were addressed to. They weren’t for
the public,” Lieber said, adding that the parents will keep
the letters private “as [Drew] intended.”

“All he discussed was the pain he was going through,” Lieber said.

In
August, the school district rejected a claim containing similar
allegations of inadequate responses to the alleged bullying. But
Glendale Unified Supt. Dick Sheehan on Tuesday said he could not comment
on pending litigation.

The lawsuit described the alleged
bullying and back-and-forth between Drew’s parents and school officials
about how to deal with the issue.